User:Nicknack009/All-Ireland league history

In 1985 the IRFU proposed an All-Ireland League, but promised to implement it only if there was a strong majority of clubs in favour. The vote of senior clubs was 23 for and 23 against, with two abstentions, and the proposal was withdrawn.[1] But following New Zealand's victory in the inaugural Rugby World Cup, England and Wales moved to emulate their competitive national league structure, and the idea of a national league for Ireland was revived.[2]

In June 1988 the IRFU announced plans for an All-Ireland League, to begin in the 1990-91 season. There would be two divisions. Division 1 would have nine teams, three from Leinster, three from Ulster and three from Munster, and Division 2 would have ten teams, three from Leinster, three from Ulster, two from Munster and two from Connacht. Teams would qualify based on their performances in the provincial senior leagues over the previous three seasons, and would play eight or nine games alongside their provincial league seasons, in place of interprovincial friendlies. Two teams would be promoted from Division 2 to Division 1, and two teams from Division 1 would be relegated to Division 2.[3] There would also be promotion and relegation between Division 2 and the provincial leagues.[4]

For the first three seasons, there were 19 teams in two divisions, 9 in Division 1, 10 in division 2. The bottom two teams in Division 1 were related, replaced by the top two teams in division 2. The bottom three teams in Division 2 were related, replaced by three teams decided by playoffs.

In 1993-94 the league expanded to 46 teams in four divisions - 11 in Divisions 1, 2 and 4, and 13 in Division 3. Two teams were relegated from Divisions 1 and 2, and three from Division 3. Division 4 club Westport withdrew from the league at the end of the season, leaving 45 teams in four divisions for 1994-95, with Division 3 reduced to 12 teams. Two teams were relegated from Divisions 1, 2 and 3, and two promoted from Divisions 2, 3 and 4, and Division 4 club University College Galway withdrew from the league, so the league was reduced to 44 teams in 1995-95, with division 4 reduced to 10 teams.

In 1996-97 the league expanded.

1997-98

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Playoffs

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Final

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  • 26 April 1998: Shannon 15-9 Garryowen

Semi-finals

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  • 18 April 1998: Shannon 28-21 St Mary's College
  • 19 April 1998: Garryowen 24-10 Young Munster
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  • Banbridge
  • Midleton

1998-99

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Playoffs

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Final

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  • 1 May 1999: Cork Constitution 14-10 Garryowen

Semi-finals

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  • 24 April 1999: Garryowen 19-17 St Mary's College
  • 24 April 1999: Cork Constitution 32-20 Buccaneers
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  • Barnhall
  • Thomond

Changes for next season

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North merged with Collegians to form Belfast Harlequins.

1999-2000

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Playoffs

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Final

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  • 20 May 2000: St Mary's College 25-22 Lansdowne

Semi-finals

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  • 13 May 2000: St Mary's 32-22 Ballymena
  • 14 May 2000 Terenure 13-29 Lansdowne

2000-01

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Playoffs

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Final

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  • 26 May 2001: Cork Constitution 12-46 Dungannon

Semi-finals

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  • 19 May 2001: Cork Constitution 18-10 Young Munster
  • 19 May 2001: Galwegians 29-31 Dungannon

2001-02

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Playoffs

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Final

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  • 4 May 2002: Cork Constitution 17-21 Shannon
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  • Highfield
  • Queen's University

2002-03

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Playoffs

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Final

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  • 10 May 2003: Clontarf 18-28 Ballymena

Semi-finals

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  • 3 May 2003: Clontarf 20-6 Buccaneers
  • 3 May 2003 Lansdowne 3-10 Ballymena
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  • Ards

2003-04

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Playoffs

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Final

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  • 8 May 2004: Cork Constitution 16-22 Shannon

Semi-finals

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  • 1 May 2004: Cork Constitution 20-6 Buccaneers
  • 1 May 2004: Shannon 27-13 Belfast Harlequins
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  • Bruff

2004-05

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Playoffs

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Final

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  • 7 May 2005: Shannon 25-20 Belfast Harlequins

Semi-finals

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  • 30 April 2005: Shannon 21-11 Clontarf
  • 30 April 2005: Garryowen 8-15 Belfast Harlequins
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  • Nenagh Ormond

2005-06

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Playoffs

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Final

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  • 13 May 2006: Clontarf 3-30 Shannon

Semi-finals

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  • 6 May 2006: Garryowen 20-21 Shannon
  • 6 May 2006: Clontarf 26-6 Cork Constitution
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  • Rainey Old Boys

2006-07

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Playoffs

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Final

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  • 5 May 2007: Cork Constitution 15-16 Garryowen

Semi-finals

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  • 28 April 2007: Cork Constitution 21-18 UL Bohemians
  • 28 April 2007: Clontarf 15-28 Garryowen
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  • Naas

2007-08

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Playoffs

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Final

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  • 11 May 2008: Cork Constitution 18-8 Garryowen

Semi-finals

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  • 3 May 2008: Cork Constitution 17-3 Clontarf
  • 3 May 2008: Shannon 6-31 Garryowen
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  • Portadown

2008-09

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Playoffs

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Final

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  • 9 May 2009: Shannon 19-19 Clontarf (Shannon win on first try scored)

Semi-finals

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  • 25 April: Cork Constitution: 6-25 Clontarf
  • 25 April: Shannon 16-12 Garryowen
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  • Navan

2009-10

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Playoffs

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Final

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  • 8 May 2010: Cork Constitution 17-10 St Mary's College
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  • City of Derry
  • Seapoint

2010-11

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Playoffs

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Final

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  • 1 May 2011: Old Belvedere 20-17 Cork Constitution
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  • Cashel
  • City of Armagh
  • Boyne
  • Sligo

2011-12

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  • Skerries

2012-13

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  • Tullamore
  • Richmond

2013-14

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  1. Wanderers
  2. Kanturk

2014-15

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Playoffs

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Final

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  • 9 May 2015: Lansdowne 18-17 Clontarf

Semi-finals

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  • 25 April 2015: Lansdowne 23-19 Young Munster
  • 25 April 2015: Terenure College 0-9 Clontarf
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  1. Dundalk

2015-16

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Playoffs

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Final

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  • 8 May 2015: Clontarf 28-25 Cork Constitution

Semi-finals

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  • 23 April 2016: Clontarf 24-10 UCD
  • 23 April 2016: Cork Constitution 22-16 Young Munster
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  1. Bangor

2016-17

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Playoffs

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Final

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  • 6 May 2017: Clontarf 21-25 Cork Constitution

Semi-final

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  • 23 April 2017: Lansdowne 16-19 Cork Constitution
  • 23 April 2017: Clontarf 37-29 Young Munster
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  1. Omagh Academicals
  2. Malahide

2017-18

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Playoffs

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Final

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  • 6 May 2018: Lansdowne 19-17 Cork Constitution

Semi-finals

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  • 28 April 2018: Lansdowne 36-19 Garryowen
  • 28 April 2018: Terenure College 15-22 Cork Constitution
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  • Ballina

2018-19

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Playoffs

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Final

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  • 5 May 2019: Cork Constitution 28-13 Clontarf

Semi-finals

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  • 27 April 2019: Clontarf 23-15 Lansdowne
  • 28 April 2019: Cork Constitution 23-3 Dublin University
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  • Enniscorthy
  • Clonmel

2019-20

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Season incomplete - Covid-19. No promotion or relegation.

2020-21

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Not played - Covid 19

2021-22

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Playoffs

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Final

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  • 1 May 2022: Clontarf 29-23 Terenure College

Semi-finals

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  • 23 April 2022: Clontarf 29-13 Cork Constitution
  • 23 April 2022: Terenure College 20-18 Lansdowne
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  • Instonians

2022-23

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Playoffs

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Final

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  • 7 May 2023: Terenure College 50-24 Clontarf

Semi-finals

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  • 22 April 2023: Clontarf 13-12 Young Munster
  • 22 April 2023: Terenure College 30-12 Cork Constitution
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  • Clogher Valley

2023-24

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Playoffs

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Semi-finals

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  • 20 April 2024: Terenure College 31-28 Lansdowne
  • 20 April 2024: Cork Constitition 40-34 Clontarf

Division 1A/1B playoffs

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Semi-finals

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  • 20 April 2024: Shannon 8-46 Old Belvedere
  • 20 April 2024: Old Wesley 21-32 Garryowen

Final

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  • Old Belvedere v Garryowen

Division 1B/2A playoffs

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Semi-finals

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  • 20 April 2024: Queen's University 59-17 Banbridge
  • 20 April 2024: Cashel 23-25 MU Barnhall

Final

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  • Queen's University v MU Barnhall

Division 2A/2B playoffs

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Semi-finals

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  • 20 April 2024: UL Bohemian 13 Sligo
  • 20 April 2024: Galway Corithians 35-21 Wanderers

Final

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  • UL Bohemian v Galway Corinthians

Division 2B/2C playoffs

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Semi-final

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  • 20 April 2024: Dolphin 42-20 Enniscorthy
  • 20 April 2024: Galwegians 40-17 Bruff

Final

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  • Dolphin v Galwegians

Division 2C/junior leagues playoffs

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Final

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  • 27 April 2024: Bangor v Monkstown
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  • Ballyclare

References

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  1. ^ David Walsh, "Yes to the World Cup... but the All Ireland League is rejected", Sunday Press, 27 October 1985
  2. ^ Neil McKay, "All-Ireland move coming", News Letter, 8 October 1987
  3. ^ Jim Stokes, "Irish rugby to get new look in 1990", Belfast Telegraph, 10 June 1988
  4. ^ Neil McKay, "IRFU set up united league", News Letter, 10 June 1988